Wyoming Unit 45 Moose Hunting Guide
Wyoming Unit 45 is one of the state's limited-quota moose hunting units, offering nonresident and resident hunters a chance to pursue one of the West's most sought-after big game animals in rugged, low-access terrain. With elevations ranging from 4,947 to 8,984 feet and nearly 1.4 million total acres, Unit 45 presents a classic Wyoming moose hunting scenario: outstanding harvest success for those who draw, but a tag that's genuinely difficult to come by and a landscape that demands real scouting effort once a hunter is in the field.
This unit sits entirely within the draw system — there is no general season moose hunting here. Every opportunity to hunt moose in Unit 45 comes through a limited-quota draw, and the hunts available include tags for antlered, either-sex animals, which is what most hunters researching this unit are after. Given the tight tag numbers and the remote character of the country, Unit 45 rewards hunters who do their homework before the season and who are realistic about what a long-term point investment actually buys them.
With only a small fraction of the unit in public ownership, this is not a unit where hunters can simply pick a trailhead and start hiking into endless public ground. Understanding the access picture, the harvest trends, and the herd data available through HuntPilot is essential before committing points to this unit.
HuntPilot Analysis: Is Unit 45 Worth Applying For?
The harvest numbers out of Unit 45 are the single most compelling argument for applying here. In the 2025 season, all 7 hunters who held tags harvested a moose — a 100% success rate. That mirrors 2024, when all 6 hunters tagged out, and 2023, when both hunters in the field were successful. Three consecutive years of complete success across a small but consistent pool of hunters is a strong signal: if a hunter draws a tag in Unit 45, the odds of filling it are about as good as moose hunting gets in Wyoming.
That said, this success rate needs context. These are small sample sizes — single-digit hunter counts each year — which is typical for limited-quota moose units but means the data reflects a handful of tags, not hundreds. A 100% success rate with 6-7 hunters is meaningful, but it should be read as "hunters who draw here are well-positioned to succeed," not as a statistical guarantee that applies to every hunter in every condition.
The tag situation also deserves a hard look. Tag quotas for one of the hunt types in this unit were cut substantially heading into 2026, a reduction of roughly 94% in that specific hunt type's quota. The other hunt type in the unit has held steady. This kind of quota volatility is common in moose management, where wildlife managers respond quickly to herd data, but it means hunters should not assume future tag availability will resemble recent years. Anyone banking points toward this unit should check HuntPilot's Unit 45 page regularly, since tag numbers here are clearly subject to change.
Trophy potential in the counties overlapping Unit 45 is moderate based on available trophy records — there's a real history of quality bulls coming from this region, but it isn't an area with an exceptional or heavily weighted trophy pedigree compared to the best moose country in the state. Hunters should view Unit 45 as a solid, dependable moose unit rather than a unit specifically targeted for record-class bulls.
Taken together: Unit 45 is worth applying for if a hunter values high success rates and is prepared for a serious point investment and a demanding access situation. It's not the unit to chase for a guaranteed giant, but it is a unit where drawing a tag has historically meant going home with a moose.
Herd Health & Population Trends
Survey data for Unit 45 covers two recent years (2023-2024), showing an average bull:cow ratio of 98:100. This figure is flagged as unusually high and is almost certainly the product of a small survey sample rather than a genuine reflection of herd composition — bull:cow ratios anywhere near parity are rare in wild moose populations and typically indicate limited survey coverage rather than an exceptional bull segment. Hunters should not interpret this ratio as evidence of an unusually bull-heavy herd. Instead, the more reliable takeaway is that only two years of survey data exist, and more consistent long-term monitoring would be needed to draw firm conclusions about herd trajectory. Until additional survey years are published, this data point should be treated cautiously rather than used as a selling point.
Access & Terrain
Unit 45 covers 1,392,948 acres, but only 16% of that acreage is public land. That means the large majority of the unit is privately held, and hunters planning a DIY approach need to recognize this up front — this is not a unit where public ground dominates the landscape or where a hunter can expect to find continuous accessible terrain. Securing permission on private land, identifying the specific public parcels that do exist, or working with a landowner relationship will likely be necessary for many hunters to access quality moose habitat here.
There is no designated wilderness acreage in this unit (0%), which means Wyoming's wilderness guide requirement for nonresidents does not apply in Unit 45. Nonresident hunters are not legally required to hire an outfitter to access any wilderness-designated ground here, since none exists within the unit boundary. That said, given the low percentage of public land, many nonresidents still choose to work with a local guide or outfitter simply to navigate the access challenges and identify huntable ground, even though it isn't a legal requirement.
Elevation in Unit 45 ranges from 4,947 feet up to 8,984 feet, a substantial spread that includes lower sagebrush and riparian country as well as higher timbered and subalpine terrain typical of good moose habitat — willow bottoms, aspen draws, and conifer edges near water. Given the low-density nature of moose populations generally and the access constraints in this unit, hunters should expect to cover ground methodically rather than relying on a single well-known honey hole. General forum discussion around Wyoming moose hunting consistently points to this reality: moose densities are naturally low, and consistent success requires covering terrain, identifying fresh sign near water and willow, and ideally making local contacts — game wardens, land managers, and local hunters — who can help narrow down current moose activity.
Trophy Quality
Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 45 reflect a moderate history of production. This is a meaningful distinction: record-book entries are logged at the county level, not the unit level, which means any trophy data associated with this region is shared with neighboring units whose boundaries fall within the same counties — the animals counted in that history may have come from anywhere within those overlapping areas, not necessarily from inside Unit 45's specific boundary.
With that caveat in place, the qualitative picture for Unit 45 and its surrounding counties is one of moderate trophy potential — there is a documented history of trophy-class bulls coming from the broader region, but it is not among the state's standout units for consistent record-book production. Hunters prioritizing raw trophy potential above all else may want to compare Unit 45 against other Wyoming moose units with more robust trophy histories. Hunters who value a strong chance at filling a tag with a mature, respectable bull — without necessarily chasing a record-class animal — will find Unit 45's combination of high recent harvest success and moderate trophy history to be a reasonable trade-off.
How to Apply
Moose hunting in Wyoming Unit 45 is managed entirely through the state's limited-quota draw system — there is no general season option here, and that applies to both resident and nonresident hunters. Every hunter pursuing moose in this unit must successfully draw a tag before stepping into the field.
Wyoming's moose draw operates on a preference-point structure for residents and nonresidents alike, meaning hunters accumulate points in years they apply but don't draw, improving their position in future draws. It's important to understand that a successful draw consumes those accumulated points — once a hunter draws a Unit 45 moose tag, their point total resets, and they begin rebuilding from zero for any future moose applications. Given the tag cuts observed heading into 2026 for one of the hunt types in this unit, hunters currently banking points toward Unit 45 should watch tag trends closely, since availability here is not guaranteed to remain stable year to year.
Residents and nonresidents apply through separate pools, and nonresidents should expect this to be a long-term point investment rather than a near-term opportunity, consistent with how competitive Wyoming moose tags are across the state. Given that tags here are extremely limited in total number, hunters serious about Unit 45 should treat this as a multi-year strategic application rather than a one-time attempt.
Application structure, current point requirements, and this year's specific tag numbers change regularly. For up-to-date deadlines, fees, and draw data for Unit 45, hunters should consult HuntPilot's Wyoming state page at /states/wy, as well as the Wyoming Game and Fish Department's published regulations for the most current application details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the terrain like in Wyoming Unit 45? Unit 45 spans a wide elevation range from 4,947 to 8,984 feet, encompassing lower sagebrush and riparian terrain up through higher timbered and subalpine habitat typical of productive moose country — willow-lined drainages, aspen stands, and conifer edges near water sources. With only 16% of the unit in public ownership, hunters need to carefully plan which specific areas are accessible, since most of the landscape is privately held.
What is harvest success like in Unit 45? Harvest success has been exceptional in recent years. All 7 hunters in 2025 harvested a moose, all 6 hunters in 2024 harvested a moose, and both hunters in 2023 harvested a moose — three straight years of 100% success. These are small hunter samples typical of limited-quota moose units, but the consistency across multiple years is a strong indicator that hunters who draw tags here are well-positioned to fill them.
How big are the moose in Unit 45? Trophy records from the counties overlapping Unit 45 point to a moderate trophy history — the region has produced quality bulls over time, but it isn't among Wyoming's standout trophy units. Because record-book entries are tracked by county rather than unit boundary, this history is shared with neighboring units in the same counties. Hunters should view Unit 45 as a unit with respectable trophy potential rather than one defined by record-class production.
Is Wyoming Unit 45 worth applying for? For hunters prioritizing a high likelihood of filling a tag once drawn, yes — the recent harvest data is about as strong as it gets. However, tag numbers in this unit are extremely limited, and one of the hunt types saw a dramatic quota reduction heading into 2026, so hunters need to verify current tag availability before committing years of point accumulation. Combined with only 16% public land, this unit demands patience both in the draw and in the field, making it best suited for hunters willing to make a long-term commitment and put in real scouting effort or secure private land access.
Do nonresidents need a guide to hunt moose in Unit 45? No. Unit 45 contains 0% designated wilderness, so Wyoming's mandatory outfitter requirement for nonresident wilderness hunters does not apply here. Nonresidents can legally hunt this unit without a licensed guide. That said, given the low percentage of public land and the scattered nature of accessible terrain, many nonresident hunters choose to work with a local outfitter or guide anyway to help navigate access and locate moose in unfamiliar private-dominated country.